Acupuncture is increasingly under consideration as a treatment modality that might be administered in an NHS setting. So attempts are being made to assess its cost-effectiveness.
Whether a patient is seeking treatment on the NHS or at a private acupuncture clinic, cost-effectiveness is of paramount concern to everyone, especially in these days of austerity. No-one wants to pay out, whether through their taxes or directly, for a treatment that does not offer value for money.
Equally, no practitioner wants to carry out treatment that they do not consider beneficial and worthwhile.
So I was interested to see that a recent systematic review of acupuncture for various conditions has demonstrated that, overall, acupuncture is a cost-effective treatment. To read the original research click here.
To return to my website, Acupuncture in Bristol and Shaftesbury, click here.
Acupuncturists have been treating people who have IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome - for many years and most consider acupuncture to be a helpful form of treatment. However the evidence has always been anecdotal.
Now, a randomised controlled trial of 233 patients in the UK, in a primary care setting, indicates that up to ten sessions of acupuncture alongside usual medical care provides an additional benefit to patients over usual care on its own. Interestingly, in addition, the benefit was sustained over the longer term. if you want to look at an abstract of the research, click on this link.
When I see patients with IBS, I use a combination of acupuncture and Chinese medical dietary advice, as I have found, over the years, that Chinese medcine is particularly good at discerning which everyday foods and methods of food preparation are best suited to any one individual, as you can see from my website Acupuncture in Bristol and Shaftesbury FAQs.
